Ongoing stray livestock issue across WA shires leaving impacted farmers frustrated
In short:
A farmer in Western Australia's south has joined growing calls for stronger action to address wandering livestock on rural properties and roads.
Ashley Hobbs, who has dealt with stray livestock for 20 years on his Great Southern property, has raised concerns that it is a serious biosecurity threat.
What's next?
WA Agricultural Minister Jackie Jarvis says the state's legislation governing livestock identification and traceability was clear, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development would ensure compliance.
A farmer in Western Australia's Great Southern has raised ongoing concerns about straying, untagged livestock, saying the state government needs to take the issue more seriously.
Ashley Hobbs, who farms near Brookton about 130 kilometres south-east of Perth, is the latest pastoralist to raise concerns about shires' limited powers to address the issue and the government's lack of urgency.
Ashley Hobbs farms near Brookton, 130 kilometres south-east of Perth. (ABC Great Southern: Kate Forrester)
"The shire is not equipped to handle animals of this size," he said.
"We're trying to work together but I've had to make a hell of a lot of racket to get them to pay serious attention."
Mr Hobbs said he had dealt with straying cattle entering his farm from neighbouring properties for about 20 years.
With the latest incursion, he had seen more than 20 stray, untagged animals enter his farm.
"The main issue is the damage they cause to my fence," Mr Hobbs said.
Ashley Hobbs says he has had to replace several of his fences over the years because of damage from straying cattle. (Supplied: Ashley Hobbs)
"I can't guarantee where I put my sheep are where they will be tomorrow because of the damage [cattle] cause to the fences.
"It has got to a point where my wife won't even go over that side of the farm, it's worn her down so much."
The Shire of Brookton were contacted for comment by the ABC on the issue of straying livestock. (ABC Great Southern: Rosemary Murphy)
Biosecurity threat
In addition to the time and effort spent repairing fences and monitoring his own livestock, Mr Hobbs said the stray cattle had become a serious biosecurity risk.
However, he said he did not feel heard when he raised the issue with the Department of Agriculture.
"The department has always said 'straying livestock is your shire's problem' — but the animals are not tagged, so isn't that a biosecurity problem?" Mr Hobbs said.
"The ag department have been very uninterested in the issue over the years."
WA Nationals deputy leader Peter Rundle has made multiple appeals to state Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis over the problem of wandering livestock. ((ABC News: Keane Bourke))
Member for Roe Peter Rundle said he had raised cases of straying and untagged livestock with WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis.
"There is not enough strong, legislative backup and I think what you're looking at is some new legislation, or some new regulations," he said.
But Ms Jarvis said existing legislation around identification and traceability requirements for livestock was clear.
"The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continues to work with all livestock owners to ensure compliance with the act," she said.
"The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 and other legislation is very clear about identification and traceability requirements for livestock."
Calling for more collaboration
Farmers in the Shire of Katanning, 180km south of Brookton, said last year they were grappling with similar issues of untagged livestock straying onto roads and neighbouring properties.
Katrina Kowald farms between Kojonup and Katanning, and raised concerns about cattle and sheep straying onto her property and surrounding roads.
She said since she had spoken with the ABC, there had been some changes to the suspected livestock owners' animals.
"We know there has been at least one visit from the Department of Agriculture, but the results have been unclear," Ms Kowald said.
Reports of livestock on roads and straying onto private property has been an ongoing issue. (Supplied)
"Some of the livestock we see are at least tagged now, so I suppose if one of us hits one, we will be able to do something insurance-wise."
However, Ms Kowald said a more collaborative approach between shires, local police and the government would result in more action being taken.
"It is about coming back to everyone working together, it's great that some of the animals are tagged but we need local laws to be sufficient to actually make a difference," she said.
"It needs to stop being handballed between the departments."